FSU Football | The Bowden Era

Bobby Bowden, the famed college football coach who led Florida State for over 30 years and transformed the Tallahassee team into a powerhouse, died 08 Aug 2021. He was 91.
     

Born 08 Nov 1929, in Birmingham, Alabama, Robert Cleckler Bowden overcame rheumatic fever as a child to quarterback Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, then attended Alabama for a semester before transferring back to his hometown Howard University, where he starred at quarterback. He married his childhood sweetheart, Ann, and they stayed together for 72 years.

Bowden retired from coaching at the end of the 2009 season after 44 seasons, which included six years at West Virginia University and 34 years at FSU. He coached his last game against his former school, West Virginia -- a 33-21 victory in the 2010 Gator Bowl.
    
Tribute - Videos - Photos - Interview - Bio -- https://seminoles.com/bowden2021/
        

Bobby Bowden's legacy left Florida State with two national championships (1993 & 1999), 12 ACC Championships, 31 bowl appearances, 33 consecutive winning seasons, two Heisman Trophy winners, 34 first round NFL draft picks, 107 NFL draftees from 1992-2009, and 118 ACC wins.

FSU Head Coach 1976 - 2009

• Most victories by an ACC Coach in a career: 389   [2nd in NCAA All-Time; due to sanctions against FSU, NCAA recognizes 377]

• Inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame

• 31 Bowl appearances in 34 seasons at FSU

• 14 consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins

• 28 consecutive Bowl Games (1982-2009)

• 11 consecutive Bowl Game victories (1985-95)

• 14 straight Bowl Games without a loss (1982-95)

• 14 straight Top 5 Finishes in the AP Poll (1987-2009)

• Coached two Heisman Trophy winners: Charlie Ward (1993) and Chris Weinke (2000)

• Most victories (173) in the ACC

• Most games coached (227) in the ACC

• Most Conference wins (118) in the ACC

• Best winning percentage, ACC games (.813)

• Twice as many ACC Football Championships (12) than any other Coach

• Opened Conference Play with 29 straight wins (1992-1995)

• Set or tied 41 ACC team records

• Twice named ACC Coach of the Year (1993, 1997)

• Most consecutive ACC Championships won or shared (9)